The Loonie Hour

Steve Saretsky

Details

The Loonie Hour is a Canadian based macro economic podcast covering newsworthy events across the globe and how they will impact Canadians.

Recent Episodes

OCT 9, 2026
Can BC Be Saved? Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson on BC’s $13.8B Deficit
British Columbia is facing a record $13.8 billion budget deficit, mounting tax pressures, and a struggling housing market. With the October 24 election approaching, we sit down with B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson to discuss the province's fiscal challenges, the NDP's tax policies, housing affordability, stalled development, the rampant crime and drug use, and the future of investment in British Columbia. We also examine the political shakeup in Quebec, rising global bond yields, mounting concerns over government debt, and the Canadian dollar's weakness against the U.S. dollar. Could higher long-term interest rates put even more pressure on Canada's economy and housing market? Join Us for The Loonie Hour Investor Series — Live in Ottawa with Ben Rabidoux on October 13th, and Live in Montreal on October 15th! Get Your Tickets Here: Ottawa - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-loonie-hour-investor-series-with-ben-rabidoux-october-13th-tickets-2000313438341 Montreal - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/montreal-the-loonie-hour-investor-series-october-15th-tickets-2000498679402 Start an investment portfolio that's built to perform with Neighbourhood Holdings! For Mortgage Brokers: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour-brokers For Investors and Advisors: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour Schedule an exploration call with IceCap Asset Management: https://icecapassetmanagement.com/contact/ ✉️ Media & Real Estate Inquiries: [email protected] Stay up to date with our information - 📫 My Real Estate Substack: https://stevesaretsky.substack.com 📫 The Loonie Hour Substack: https://looniehour.substack.com/about 📊➡️ Loonie Hour Socials: https://linktr.ee/looniehour 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast on Your Preferred Platform: https://linktr.ee/looniehour Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 07:17 British Columbia's Political and Economic Outlook 13:29 Lorne Doerkson Joins The Show 22:48 B.C.'s Record Deficit and Tax Policies 24:49 Infrastructure Spending and Government Priorities 26:37 Unsold Condos and B.C.'s Housing Crisis 30:39 Construction Costs and Housing Affordability 35:07 Natural Resources and Investment in B.C. 40:46 Crime, Drugs, and Public Safety 47:10 B.C. Election Takeaways 48:30 Quebec's Political Shakeup 53:10 Population Growth and Immigration 54:58 The Loonie Hour Live Events 57:10 Global Bond Yields Continue to Rise 01:03:41 Government Debt and Rising Borrowing Costs 01:07:37 Canadian Dollar Under Pressure 01:14:02 Market Volatility and Investor Positioning 01:18:12 Closing Remarks Disclaimer: The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets. #LoonieHour #macroeconomics #britishcolumbia
80 MIN
OCT 2, 2026
Are we Reaching Capitulation in the Bond Market?
Bond markets are deteriorating rapidly as yields rise and credit spreads begin to widen across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan. We discuss what tightening financial conditions could mean for housing, equities, the broader economy, as well as the possibility that a short-term recovery in bonds could ultimately prove to be a bear trap. Meanwhile, B.C.’s condo market continues to struggle with thousands of completed and unsold units as developers face mounting pressure. We also discuss Canada’s debt maturity schedule, Saskatchewan's push toward nuclear power, taxes and talent retention, and the renewed debate over immigration and temporary foreign workers. Join Us for The Loonie Hour Investor Series — Live in Ottawa with Ben Rabidoux on October 13th, and Live in Montreal on October 15th! Get Your Tickets Here: Ottawa - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-loonie-hour-investor-series-with-ben-rabidoux-october-13th-tickets-2000313438341 Montreal - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/montreal-the-loonie-hour-investor-series-october-15th-tickets-2000498679402 Start an investment portfolio that's built to perform with Neighbourhood Holdings! For Mortgage Brokers: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour-brokers For Investors and Advisors: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour Schedule an exploration call with IceCap Asset Management: https://icecapassetmanagement.com/contact/ ✉️ Media & Real Estate Inquiries: [email protected] Stay up to date with our information - 📫 My Real Estate Substack: https://stevesaretsky.substack.com 📫 The Loonie Hour Substack: https://looniehour.substack.com/about 📊➡️ Loonie Hour Socials: https://linktr.ee/looniehour 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast on Your Preferred Platform: https://linktr.ee/looniehour Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:28 Loonie Hour Investor Series 07:26 B.C. Election & David Eby’s Condo Tax 10:40 Taxing Unsold New Condos 12:31 B.C.’s Growing Condo Inventory 14:39 Developers Cutting Prices & Raising Commissions 16:19 Why Developers Can’t Simply Slash Prices 18:02 Bond Stress Meets the Housing Market 19:49 Loonie Hour Investor Series 21:39 The Global Bond Selloff 23:08 High-Yield Credit Spreads Are Moving 26:12 Is a Bond Market Recovery a Bear Trap? 27:52 Tightening Financial Conditions 30:42 Bond Market Warning Signals 33:55 U.S. Economy Complicates the Rate Outlook 36:59 Canada’s Coming Debt Maturity Wall 38:29 Canada Reshapes Its Debt Profile 40:17 Why U.S. and Canadian Bond Yields Differ 45:22 Canada Still Doesn’t Have a Budget 46:58 Saskatchewan Pushes Nuclear Power 50:04 Canada’s Changing Energy Policy 51:25 High Taxes & Canadian NHL Teams 53:45 Canada’s Talent Retention Problem 54:25 Property Tax Freeze for Seniors 56:00 Generational Inequality in Canada 56:22 Canada’s Immigration Debate Returns 01:01:18 Ottawa & Montreal Events Disclaimer: The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets. #LoonieHour #macroeconomics #bondmarket
62 MIN
SEP 25, 2026
McDonald's CEO: Food Inflation Is Here to Stay
Today, we'll break down the renewed surge in global bond yields and what it could mean for interest rates, mortgages, housing, and the broader economy. Long-term yields are climbing across central banks globally, putting renewered pressure on borrowing costs just as households and businesses faces further challenges. We also discuss Canada's slowing population growth and rental market, mounting stress in US housing and multifamily real estate, weakness beneath the surface of the US consumer, and why companies like McDonald's are warning that sticky, elevated food inflation and flat customer traffic are the "new normal". Join Us for The Loonie Hour Investor Series — Live in Ottawa with Ben Rabidoux on October 13th, and Live in Montreal on October 15th! Get Your Tickets Here: Ottawa - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-loonie-hour-investor-series-with-ben-rabidoux-october-13th-tickets-2000313438341 Montreal - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/montreal-the-loonie-hour-investor-series-october-15th-tickets-2000498679402 Start an investment portfolio that's built to perform with Neighbourhood Holdings! For Mortgage Brokers: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour-brokers For Investors and Advisors: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour Check Out True North Mortgage's 40-Year Amortization Plan: Visit https://www.truenorthmortgage.ca/ today! Schedule an exploration call with IceCap Asset Management: https://icecapassetmanagement.com/contact/ ✉️ Media & Real Estate Inquiries: [email protected] Stay up to date with our information - 📫 My Real Estate Substack: https://stevesaretsky.substack.com 📫 The Loonie Hour Substack: https://looniehour.substack.com/about 📊➡️ Loonie Hour Socials: https://linktr.ee/looniehour 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast on Your Preferred Platform: https://linktr.ee/looniehour Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 07:09 BC Election & Canadian Politics 18:18 Canada’s Population Growth Slows 24:44 Canada’s Rental Market & Long-Term Interest Rates 25:05 Global Bond Yields Surge 29:34 Bond Market & Mortgage Rates 35:09 Canadian Mortgage Rates Move Higher 36:23 US Housing Market Problems 37:17 US Multifamily Debt Crisis 40:20 Loonie Hour Investor Series 43:31 Bank of Canada Rate Hikes 49:11 Mortgage Renewals & Higher Rates 51:05 Energy Prices Are Getting Worse 53:59 US Diesel Export Ban 58:06 Stock Market Warning Signs 01:01:00 McDonald’s, Inflation & Consumer Weakness 01:03:14 US Consumer Confidence Plunges 01:06:03 The Big Mac Index & Inflation Disclaimer: The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets. #LoonieHour #macroeconomics #inflation
70 MIN
SEP 18, 2026
Central Banks Commit to Raising Rates into an Energy Crisis
Central banks are turning increasingly hawkish as an escalating global energy crisis keeps inflation under pressure. We'll break down why policymakers are committing to higher interest rates even as the underlying inflation problem is increasingly driven by energy supply. They discuss the latest moves from the Fed and European central banks, rising global bond yields, surging oil and fuel costs, and what it could mean for Canadian mortgage rates. Meanwhile, Canada’s housing market remains frozen, with national home sales falling to their lowest year-to-date level since 2003. Join Us For The Loonie Hour Investor Series - With Ben Rabidoux, Live In Ottawa on October 13th! Get Your Tickets Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-loonie-hour-investor-series-with-ben-rabidoux-october-13th-tickets-2000313438341 Start an investment portfolio that's built to perform with Neighbourhood Holdings! For Mortgage Brokers: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour-brokers For Investors and Advisors: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour Check Out True North Mortgage's 40-Year Amortization Plan: Visit https://www.truenorthmortgage.ca/ today! Schedule an exploration call with IceCap Asset Management: https://icecapassetmanagement.com/contact/ ✉️ Media & Real Estate Inquiries: [email protected] Stay up to date with our information - 📫 My Real Estate Substack: https://stevesaretsky.substack.com 📫 The Loonie Hour Substack: https://looniehour.substack.com/about 📊➡️ Loonie Hour Socials: https://linktr.ee/looniehour 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast on Your Preferred Platform: https://linktr.ee/looniehour Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 06:52 Canada Housing Hits a 23-Year Low 09:34 Housing Inventory & Cancelled Listings 11:11 Housing Starts Keep Falling 13:18 What Happened to the 500,000 Homes? 14:03 Should Canada Keep the Foreign Buyer Ban? 18:38 Canada’s Massive Investment Push 20:16 Canada Cuts Investment Taxes 22:55 Breaking Down the $500B Investment Commitment 24:53 Where Are the Foreign Investors? 27:13 Canada’s Biggest New Investment Projects 30:27 Did Trump Force Canada to Change Course? 34:24 Canada Embraces Energy Again 38:04 Why Investment Will Take Years to Materialize 42:26 Central Banks Turn Hawkish 46:22 Could the Bank of Canada Raise Rates? 48:02 Higher Rates Won’t Fix Energy Inflation 51:00 Global Bond Markets Under Pressure 56:12 The Global Energy Crisis Deepens 58:43 The World Is Running Out of Energy Capacity 01:01:07 Oil Tanker Costs Explode 01:02:19 Canadian Mortgage Rates Under Pressure 01:05:06 Mortgage Arrears Hit a Decade High 01:06:18 Canada & the European Union 01:09:49 Canada Already Has an EU Trade Deal 01:11:03 Europe’s Sovereign Debt Risks 01:12:28 Would Canadians Actually Move to Europe? Disclaimer: The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets. #LoonieHour #macroeconomics #centralbank
75 MIN
SEP 11, 2026
Could the US Sanction Canadian Banks Next? w/ guest Ben Rabidoux
Ben Rabidoux joins the show to break down the latest housing data, rising mortgage rates, record mortgage renewals, the ongoing shifting in economic alliances, and why delinquencies could continue climbing through 2027 and beyond. We also discuss the escalating Canada–U.S. trade dispute, inflation risks, rising global bond yields, weakness across several provincial housing markets, and how Canada’s booming energy sector might be helping keep government finances and mortgage rates under control. Join Us For The Loonie Hour Investor Series - With Ben Rabidoux, Live In Ottawa on October 13th! Get Your Tickets Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-loonie-hour-investor-series-with-ben-rabidoux-october-13th-tickets-2000313438341 Start an investment portfolio that's built to perform with Neighbourhood Holdings! For Mortgage Brokers: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour-brokers For Investors and Advisors: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour Subscribe to Ben Rabidoux's Edge Analytics and Save $10/month forever! https://www.edgeanalytics.ca/lh39 Check Out True North Mortgage's 40-Year Amortization Plan: Visit https://www.truenorthmortgage.ca/ today! Schedule an exploration call with IceCap Asset Management: https://icecapassetmanagement.com/contact/ ✉️ Media & Real Estate Inquiries: [email protected] Stay up to date with our information - 📫 My Real Estate Substack: https://stevesaretsky.substack.com 📫 The Loonie Hour Substack: https://looniehour.substack.com/about 📊➡️ Loonie Hour Socials: https://linktr.ee/looniehour 🎙️ Listen to the Podcast on Your Preferred Platform: https://linktr.ee/looniehour Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 08:12 Is Canada’s Housing Market Bottoming? 11:27 Mortgage Rates Are Moving Higher 16:05 When Will Bonds Become Attractive Again? 18:19 Bank of Canada Rate Hikes Are Coming 20:04 Inflation Expectations Matter 23:35 Europe Is Raising Rates Again 25:22 The Next Wave of Inflation 30:02 Canada’s Regional Housing Markets 31:40 Canada’s Rental Market Will Stay Weak 32:54 Canada-U.S. Trade War Escalates 35:01 Mortgage Delinquencies Hit Record Highs 37:16 The Mortgage Renewal Wave Is Here 40:16 Canada’s Economy Faces More Pressure 41:44 The Risk To Canadian Banks 44:58 Canada’s Money Laundering Problem 49:40 How Iranian Capital Can Enter Canada 53:09 Good News For Canada 53:31 Foreign Investors Are Buying Canadian Bonds 54:28 Oil & Gas Is Helping Balance Canada’s Budget 56:08 Is Canada Becoming More Pro-Energy? 58:35 Canada’s Politically Charged Environment 01:02:38 Bank of Canada Rate Predictions Disclaimer: The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets. #LoonieHour #macroeconomics #bondmarket
64 MIN